In the middle of a challenge or a crisis,
How can you find ways to continue to function effectively?
Maybe you and your team were already overstretched,
And with this new challenge,
It feels hopeless to meet all the needs.
Or the crisis means that vital equipment that was already in short supply is now even less available,
And you feel frustrated and helpless.
And you may also be concerned for the well-being of your family and friends.
When things are feeling overwhelming,
Our neuroendocrine system can go into overdrive,
Exhausting systems that it helps regulate,
Like the immune system,
Mood,
And emotions.
Research tells us that the stress response is neither good nor bad.
Our bodies and minds need stress.
A short duration stress response supports you getting things completed.
Have you ever noticed how a clear deadline for a task can increase your engagement and productivity?
However,
The stress response wasn't meant to be active for a prolonged period of time.
It is thought that the fight,
Flight,
Freeze response that is activated with stress can be buffered through a practice called mindfulness meditation.
In challenging times,
Allowing yourself a moment to self-regulate your stress response can enable you to continue to offer support and help to those around you.
Here,
We will explore two tools that can be used in your daily life to help regulate the stress response in times of challenge or crisis.
The first focuses awareness on specific movements of the hands and the breath to help find calm.
The second tool brings to mind the image of a calm,
Secure place to use as a resource when you're feeling overwhelmed.
Remember to take care of yourself in these practices.
If you're feeling uncomfortable,
See if moving your posture brings more ease.
And if something's not working for you,
Feel free to try a different practice that may be more suited to your present experience.
Let's try out the practices of finding calm.
